After leaving England in 1985, I’ve earned my stripes working for Andy Warhol, Karl Lagerfeld and John Fairchild – all kings in their respective fields. Thanks to Vogue’s Anna Wintour, I landed at Lagerfeld's Chanel studio in 1989. It was a brilliant way of beginning life in Paris – the undisputed capital of fashion. In 1991, I left to write for Fairchild’s Women’s Wear Daily and W Magazine. Just as I covered the social front - fundamental to gaining access in Paris – I also discovered talents like Christian Louboutin. From 1999 - 2004, I was the European Editor of Harper’s Bazaar before contributing to the International Herald Tribune, Time’s Style & Design and Vogue. As well as writing the bi-monthly column 'Inner Chic' for Anothermag.com, I’m the author of Sam Spiegel – The Biography of A Hollywood Legend; Tino Zervudachi: A Portfolio; Understanding Chic, an essay from the Paris Was Ours anthology and the Chanel book, for Assouline's fashion series.

1/20/2013 @ 3:52PM1,587 views

Berluti Launch

Forget Berluti being only known for its long, pointy shoes worn by the likes of the Duke of Windsor, Frank Sinatra and Andy Warhol. Thanks to Berluti’s designer Alessandro Sartori, get used to a high quality fashion house promising three-piece suits, stylish sporty outerwear, six-ply cashmeres and quilted leather blousons. Of course, Sartori was the star of Zegna’s menswear before Antoine Arnault – Berluti’s CEO and son of Luxury Tsar Bernard Arnault – tempted him away. As Sartori’s followers will remember, the 46-year-old Italian dandy carved quite a reputation for his sharp clothes and thrilling attention to detail at Z Zegna, one of the lines of the family-owned Italian brand. And expect more of the same at Berluti where he will highlight the iconic worked-upon leather, achieved by complex treatments.

Last Friday, there was an imaginative and captivating Berluti presentation at the Museum of Natural History. Looks were either dotted around the glass cases of endangered and extinct species or were worn by groups of male models, composing a series of tableau vivants. Officially, the occasion was to introduce Sartori’s third collection for the new fashion house. Still, it was so elaborate and followed by a top-tier fashion dinner that included Natalia Vodianova, Arnault’s super model girlfriend, shoe designer Christian Louboutin, stylist Carine Roitfeld and a clutch of catwalk stars that it felt like a full-fledged launch. The message being Berluti has arrived.From hence forward, expect the ultimate in men’s style and a contemporary slant on footwear.

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